I'm not great at working from written instructions. Being a simple soul, I prefer to be able to see what I'm supposed to be doing. So this is how to connect the two ends to make a folded brim, based on what was used on the Steady Hat. With thanks to my hand model whose knees suffered for the cause.
To set the scene, I cast on in waste yarn and then joined in the real colour after a couple of rows. I knitted in stocking stitch for a bit and then in pattern, on larger needles, for the same length.
You need a total of three needles to do this bit: one to hold the live stitches, one to knit with and one to pick up the stitches.
Right. We did this based on the swatch, rather than the whole hat, so you'll see straight needles in the pictures. If you're making the hat, clearly you'll be on circulars.
First go to the waste yarn bit and start to pick up the stitches.
Once you've done all of them, it should look a litle like this:
Next, the fun bit: you need to cut away the waste yarn. Care and patience required the ensure you don't cut the actual stitches too.
To connect the two sets of live stitches, you need to fold your work so that the needles lie side by side. You put the third needle as though to knit the first stitch on the pattern side and then through the first stitch on the plain side.
Repeat until the whole lot is joined.
And that's it.
By the way, the yarn Steady Saffron for Refuge will be available later this week from Skein Queen, so make sure you keep an eye out for the shop update. Also, if you haven't bought the patterns yet, get over to Ravelry to pick up the ebook for £5.